down mass

So, is Dragon the only commercial project capable of bring significant
items back?
Of course ESA say they can modify ATV for downmass, its a nice way of
attempting to explain away the large amount of development tey have done,
without actually saying they would look at a crew module if they could get
the money...

Brian

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Brian Gaff had uiteengezet :
So, is Dragon the only commercial project capable of bring significant items
back?
Of course ESA say they can modify ATV for downmass, its a nice way of
attempting to explain away the large amount of development tey have done,
without actually saying they would look at a crew module if they could get
the money...

Brian

I have serious doubts ESA is going to develop a manned rated ATV,
because they are building a Soyuz launchpad at ESA launch center.
However, the ESA site does not rule that out.
My bet is on a ATV with return capability for now.

http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Launchers_A...5P57ESD_0.html

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
om...
So, is Dragon the only commercial project capable of bring significant
items back?

Yes, I believe that is the case.

Of course ESA say they can modify ATV for downmass, its a nice way of
attempting to explain away the large amount of development tey have done,
without actually saying they would look at a crew module if they could
get the money...

This is true. It's an incremental development approach which takes into
account the relatively low level of funding for ESA. But compared to the US
history of aborted manned space vehicles (HL-20, X-38, CRV, and etc.), I
think this approach is the better one.

Jeff
--
"Take heart amid the deepening gloom
that your dog is finally getting enough cheese" - Deteriorata - National
Lampoon

It has only been a few days since the USA announced plans to consider
forming a committee to study the feasability of submitting a budget that
contains defunding for Constallation.

Once people have absorbed the news and the future plans (or lack
thereof) for the USA become official, then you might see ESA propose to
convert ATV to manned vehicle.

Or perhaps Japan might decide to do that.

It also depends on how many Soyuz manned vehicles Russia can spit out
each year and at what price. If there is a view that there might be
shortages in manned capacity, then ESA or Japan might see some
justification in building manned versions of their vehicles. But if
Russia is able to ramp up production and keep prices reasonable, then
tyre might not be much of a point in such a project.

ESA is perhaps better positioned since it has its Arianne 5 rocket with
sufficient number of flights to have some idea of its reliability. (it
has been a while sicne they've had massive fireworks in Kourou).